Luxury Rafting Trips With Children
"What a pleasure to see our children so happily entertained by skipping rocks, and playing tag and cards with other children. Nintendo, Gameboys, and TV were forgotten."
-S. Hendler, San Francisco, CA (Rogue)
Many of ECHO's rafting guests are families with kids. Because rafting offers something for people of all ages and interests to enjoy, a river trip is the perfect family vacation. ECHO even offers luxury rafting vacations for children and adults on the Rogue and Middle Fork that specifically cater to families.
Sometimes parents get nervous when they think about taking kids whitewater rafting for the first time. An article was written by Cindy Hirschfeld in the Rocky Mountain News in October that has useful information for parents who are at all apprehensive about going on a river trip with their kids. The article explores the challenges and rewards of being with children in the wilderness. A mother who recently took her 10-year-old son on the Middle Fork of the Salmon said he "found his inner river rat" on the trip.
At ECHO, we see kids (and adults) delight in more than just the whitewater excitement. Often children's favorite part of the trip is in camp, competing in a Koob match, discovering Native American artifacts, and swimming in the river. Our guides love leading kids to new experiences such as watching otters play in the river, soaking in a "natural jacuzzi" (aka hotspring), or baking a Dutch oven birthday cake in the "middle of nowhere." Ear-to-ear smiles are common on both children and parents faces when kids make it through a big rapid in a ducky or discover the art of skipping rocks.
On a Middle Fork trip last summer, a group of teenagers decided to ditch their luxury tent packages on the last night and sleep out on a sandy beach under the stars. Although they were only a few feet from their parents' deluxe tents, they were thrilled about the freedom they found from sleeping outside.
The article points out that adults do not have to give up an adventurous, active lifestyle simply because they have kids. Although it takes more patience and spontaneity to do adventurous activities with kids, there are many rewards as well. Hirschfeld writes, "There are distinct advantages to slowing down and viewing your surroundings from a child's perspective. The kids are the ones taking it all in and noticing the details." So, join ECHO for a luxury river rafting vacation on the Rogue River or the Middle Fork of the Salmon in 2007. And make sure to bring the kids!
Recommended reading: Extreme Kids: How to Connect with Your Children Through Today's Extreme (and Not So Extreme) Outdoor Sports, Scott Graham, Wilderness Press
